When purchasing plants, it is common practice to find them rooted in potting soil, but a new business in Flagstaff seeks to demonstrate an alternative method for growing houseplants.
R3tro Roots is a small business owned by Jenny Schiff that sells upcycled plant creations. Schiff partnered with Mountain Sports Flagstaff for the first time to sell her products and educate those visiting the First Friday Art Walk in Historic Downtown Flagstaff.
Flagstaff is home to numerous second-hand stores with a community that embraces thrifting and creating from upcycled materials. R3tro Roots joined the ranks last July.
Schiff said many of their plant containers come from locally owned thrift stores, including Cedar Closet and Sharon’s Attic. Using upcycled materials is where the name “R3tro Roots” stems from.
“I want to use everything recycled, as recycled as possible, and create, you know, as small a footprint as I can,” Schiff said.
In addition to using exclusively vintage containers, Schiff said what sets her creations apart from other plant arrangements is the method in which she grows them. She uses lightweight expanded clay aggregate balls (LECA), a more environmentally friendly and low-maintenance alternative to soil.
Retro Roots owner Jenny Schiff shows off a hydroponic plant in a vintage mug from her display inside Mountain Sports Flagstaff at the First Friday Art Walk, Feb. 2.
Schiff houses over 350 plants in her home, grown hydroponically, which involves a water-based nutrient solution, namely LECA. Schiff’s main reason for using this method is that it is much safer for both the environment and homes, she said.
Peat moss is often found in soil to balance pH levels but releases carbon into the atmosphere once it is harvested. This is where Schiff’s preferred method of hydroponic growing sees its advantage.
“A lot of soil mixtures contain peat moss,” Schiff said. “With LECA, you can just let the plant keep living in the water and it won’t attract those pests.”
LECA balls are made from clay, brick dust and waste from albite— a sodium-rich mineral derived from feldspar. LECA is unique in that it can be washed and reused.
For farming and outdoor gardening, LECA is not the most cost-effective method for growing large amounts of plants. However, for indoor gardening and houseplants, it can be an alternative to potting soil.
Schiff said her mission is to educate shoppers interested in owning plants on lesser-known methods for plant growth.
A collection of hydroponic plants from Jenny Schiff’s Retro Roots display inside Mountain Sports Flagstaff at the First Friday Art Walk, Feb. 2.
“I’m going to start offering [LECA soil] to kind of support people and push them to do that,” Schiff said. “I think it encourages them to try it out.”
Additionally, potting soil has little nutritional value for houseplants and serves as a gathering point for insects and pests, which can be inconvenient for dorms or apartments. LECA balls are easy to use, less messy and environmentally neutral, Schiff said. Pests are also less attracted to plants grown hydroponically.
To get her products out to the community, Schiff said she has sold at various markets in the last year.
The First Friday Art Walk is a monthly event in the city where artists come to display their creations for the community. Mountain Sports, a store that specializes in selling outdoor clothes and equipment, just celebrated its 50th anniversary. The store has been part of the First Friday Art Walk for a long time, partnering with other small businesses.
Lisa Lamberson has owned Mountain Sports for the past seven years, taking over her family’s business. Lamberson said she has made it a point to collaborate with other businesses in Downtown Flagstaff.
“Most of the businesses downtown tried to have some sort of activation or event, and the way that we have found it to be most fun for our customers as well as for us is to invite artists to our store,” Lamberson said.
Retro Roots owner Jenny Schiff (Left) and Mountain Sports Flagstaff manager Nicole Houston (Right) pose with hydroponic plants from Schiff’s display inside Mountain Sports Flagstaff at the First Friday Art Walk, Feb. 2.
Having someone like Schiff display plant arrangements and sustainable alternatives to soil was something new for the store, Lamberson said.
With Schiff’s business being relatively new and unique with its creativity, Lamberson also said she saw this as an opportunity to help a business quickly grow.
“Part of something that’s really important to me as an individual is the curation and celebration of our community,” Lamberson said. “I think anytime that we can lift any new or long-standing business up, it helps.”
She said a big part of Mountain Sports’ mission is to promote sustainability and environmental awareness. They are a part of the 1% for the Planet organization, where participating businesses donate 1% of all sales to protect the environment and spread environmental awareness.
Nicole Houston, the general manager at Mountain Sports, said R3tro Roots fits nicely with the business’ ideals.
“This is the first time we’ve hosted R3tro Roots,” Houston said. “A lot of our First Friday artists are usually jewelry makers or ceramicists, so it was really cool to see Jenny coming in with something that is variable to that.”
Mountain Sports’ goals of sustainability and community growth intersect with R3tro Roots’ mission of educating people about sustainable plant growth.
Plants and other products for sale sit on a table at the sale by R3tro Roots held at Mountain Sports Flagstaff, Feb. 2.
“Anytime somebody comes to us and they have some type of product that fits the ethos of our company, we will generally welcome them in for any sort of pop-up,” Houston said. “Moving forward, I’d love to see more variance.”
Schiff has plans to continue selling products from R3tro Roots at future local events and markets in Flagstaff.
With companies like Retro Roots and Mountain Sports supporting eco-friendly initiatives, such as the 1% for the Planet organization or spreading the word about sustainable alternatives for growing your plants, local businesses with sustainable ideals can find the perfect soil to blossom.
